Apparatus for the construction of desk, table, or counter tops



Nov. 22, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 10, 1947 e O E S m mwr w. H mg m H A J m N A .2! l d m E Z. F & N Mm 3 m wd fi ln. TI 3 h a p JIMMMMJ 0 4. 1 (/10. L 1 W B 1. I m 4, a ,l

Nov. 22, 1949 ,1. H. BTRINKER ETAL 2,489,113

APPARATUS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF DESK, TABLE QR COUNTER TOPS Filed Oct. 10, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a. 1 ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 22, 1949 J. H. BRINKER ETAL 2,489,1E8 APPARATUS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF DESK, TABLE OR COUNTER TOPS Filed 06 10, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 N V EN TORS Jwv HENRY Few/(5e ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 22, 1949 UN ITfED STATES PATENT QFFICE APPARATUS FOR THE GGNSTRUCTION OF DESK, TABLE-R COUNTER TOPS This invention relates to an apparatus for .producing a desk, table or'counter top havlnga fiat working surface merging in smoothlcurves Iinto side and end wallsand-having smoothly rounded corners, such top being -.covered with linoleum or similar material.

Linoleum covered desktops have come into more and more prominent'use in recent years hecauseof the fact that linoleum affords an ideal writing surface,-beingrelatively'hard and yet .very slightly yielding. It-avoidsthe disadvantages of metal in that zit is .not cold to the touch and stands (up better than :a highly polished wood surface. 7

In the development oflinoleum covered desk and table tops attempts -havelbeen made tovprovide a top with rounded upper edges and Idesks have been available on the .market -.in which the front and rear-edgesof the deskra'ttthe top were rounded and covered with-linoleum and the end edges and corners have been covered with arme tallictrim strip.

Another development was a desk top having its four upper edges rounded and covered with linoleum, the linoleum having the corners cut out and covered with a metallic cornerplalte.

Heretoforanoone has beenable toproduce a desk or table tophaving smoothly rounded u per edges on all four .sides and smoothly "rounded corners, the Whole being covered with asl'n'gle piece oflinoleum.

It is an object, therefore, of our invention "to provide for a novellmethod of producing a desk top having smoothly rounded upper edges and corners, .the whole being Jeovered witha single piece of linoleum without .notehedpr cut away corners, whereby all undesirable joints in the linoleum are .eliminated, .an'd manufacturing costs are reduced. The cornersof .the.linoleum,flhowever, are shaped with a suitable-trim .so that the edge .of the linoleum will terminate approximately flush with the edge of the steel sub-top. It is another object ofour invention to provide an apparatus by means of whichfthe linoleum covering may be applied successfully inasingle piece.

A further object of our invention includes the provision of a novel .female mold element having hinged corner-pieces whereby the 'sideva'nd end curves of the covering materialmaybeeifected before the cornerportions are compressed'in'to shape. 7

These and otherobjects of-our invention which we shall describe in "more detail hereinafter .or

which will appearto thoseskilled in the art as 58 the description proceeds, we accomplish by that certain construction and arrangement of parts and by that series of method steps of which We shall now describe exemplary embodiments.

It is to be understood that when we refer to a desktop hereinafter, we use the term as inclusive of table tops, counter tops, and that the word linoleum is inclusive of various materials on .the market having qualities and characteristics similar to linoleum.

In the drawings which form a part hereof:

'Figure 1 is a plan view of a female mold element and its supporting structure.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the same.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 33 of Figure '1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view of one corner of-Figure 1 on an enlarged scale.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a plan view on a reduced scale of a desktop according to our invention.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of acorneriof a desk top on a greatly enlarged scale.

liFigure 8 is a fragmentar cross sectional view taken on'the line B8 of Figure 6 on an enlarged scale.

:Figure9 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on the line 99 of Figure '7.

Figure 10 is an exploded cross sectional view taken on the line lil|i3 of Figure 2, b-uton an enlarged scale showing the female mold element with its supporting structure, a sheet of covering material, a desk top, a backing piece, and'a clamp.

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10 showing the sheet of linoleum in position in the female mold'element and the desk top about to be placed thereon.

Figure 12 is a View similar to Figures 10 and 11 showing the entire assembly clamped together.

Figure .13 is a view similar to Figure 5, but showlngthe covering material and desk top in position.

Figure 13a is a. view similar to Figure 13, showing a, modified clamp.

"Figure 1A is a'bottom plan View of the desk top with the linoleum or covering materialsecured thereto.

'Figure 15 is a fragmentary perspective view of a trim strip.

Figure '16 is a plan View of a trim strip showing the manner offorming it.

Figure 17 is a view similar to Figure 14 but showing the trim strip in place.

Figure 18 is a side elevational view of a stack of finished desk tops in storing position, while the adhesive material is setting.

Figure 19 is a view similar to the left hand end of Figure 12, showing a modified clamped assembly.

Briefly, in the practice of our invention, we provide a supporting structure indicated generally at is mounted on suitable legs H and carrying the female mold element indicated generally at I2. The female mold element has a flat bottom portion and curved pieces forming side and end members as indicated at l3 and 14, respectively. These terminate in vertical planes at right angles to each other at the ends of the adjacent side and end pieces.

In the particular embodiment illustrated, the

bottom portion of the mold is made of wood or Masonite, while the members 13 and [4 are made of metal. It will be clear that the particular material used does not form a limitation upon our invention and that the structure was made in this particular way as a matter of convenience. Hinged to the supporting structure as at I5 is a plate member it upon which is mounted a corner piece [1. The plate l6 carries a bracket 18 to which is pivoted a link 19 carrying a locking piece 28 by means of a bolt and lock nut indicated generally at 2!. The locking arm is is actuated by means of a handle member 22 in the form of a bell crank having its short arm pivoted to the link is at 23 and being pivoted at 24 to a link 25 which has its other end pivoted on the bracket 18 at 2%. It will be noted that the pivot point 23 (see Figure 5) is slightly to the right of the center between the pivot points 24 and 26, thus constituting what may be called a dead center locking mechanism. The locking piece 20 engages edges of the supporting structure In as best seen in Figure 4.

It will be clear, if the handle 22 is pushed down, as soon as the line connecting the pivot points 24 and 26 passes the pivot point 23, downward movement of the lever 22 lifts the arm [9 and the looking piece 2t so that the entire plate I6 may swing down about its pivot point I5 to the position shown in broken lines in Figure 5. In relocking, it is simply necessary to lift upward on the mem-.- ber 22 which carries the entire plate It upward until the corner piece I! is in position, which also carries the locking piece 20 into position to engage the supporting structure l0, and then a final slightly upward movement of the handle 22 brings the linkage into the locked position shown in solid lines in Figure 5.

It is necessary that the corner piece be accurately adjusted so that it seats correctly at the corners of the female mold element and for this purpose we secure the corner piece I! to the plate is by four screws 21 disposed in substantially square arrangement and opposed by a screw 23 which is threaded through the plate l6 and bears against the under side of the block H. In this way, we are able to very accurately adjust the position of the corner piece [1.

It will be understood, of course, that the structure of Figures 4 and 5 is reproduced at each corner of the female mold element.

In Figure 13a we have shown a slight modification of the corner piece locking mechanism in which the parts are given reference numerals corresponding to those in Figures 5 and 13 with the suffix a. The linkage is the same as that described above, except that it is elevated on the plate member It by means of the spacers [8b so that the link lba in looking position will be above the edges of the supporting structure In, and the position of the locking piece 250. is inverted. We have found that this modified arrangement is somewhat easier to operate, since it eliminates possible interference between the locking piece 26a and the structure It during upward movement of the plate 16.

The desk top which is to be covered with linoleum is indicated at as in Figure and it indicated generally at 31 comprising a rectangular board or base bearing a series of blocks on its under side, certain of these blocks 32 being narrow so as to enter in the bracing channels 33 on the under side of the desk top and other blocks 34 of a size to fit between the bracing channels 33.

To clamp the desk top and backing member against the sheet of linoleum in the mold, we provide a number of clamps comprising I-beam' members 35. Ihe I-beams 35 are clamped in position by a structure comprising links 36 pivoted to adjusting screws 31 passing through holes in the I-beam 35 and secured by the nuts 38. Pivoted to the lower inturned end of the links as at 39 is a lever 49. The members 4|] have slightly curved locking fingers 4| which engage in grooves 42 in metallic strips 43 suitably secured to the under side of the supporting structure Ill. The lugs 41a abut against the lower inturned ends of the links 35, just past dead center position.

The nuts 38 are adjusted so that when the assembly is in the position of Figure 12, some pressure is required to move the lever 40 to the position shown in Figure 12 to lock the assembly together. The structure just described is repeated at the other end of the I-beam 5, and two or more of such I-beams are used to clamp the assembly together.

In Figure 19 we have shown a modified arrangement for clamping the assembly together. Here the supporting structure in rests on a number of transverse I-beams lea. The link 36 is in two parts, 36a and 3622, which are pivoted together at 360. The link 35a is secured to the end of the I-beam Illa by means of a bolt 31a and nut 38a. The end of the link 3% is inturned and has pivoted to it the locking lever 40a as at 39a. A notched block 4.2a is secured to the I-beam 35 at its end, and the short arm of the locking lever 40a engages the block 42c as shown, and effects a locking action of the dead center type. The structure of Figure 19 is of course repeated at both ends of each I-beam Illa.

The procedural steps in preparing the desk top are as follows:

A sheet of linoleum indicated at 44 is placed in the female mold member as shown in Figure 11. It will be noted that the corner pieces I! are dropped down out of the way so that the sheet of linoleum may curve smoothly at the ends and sides with the corner portion extending out through the open corners of the female mold element. The surface of the desk top 3!! is then coated with a suitable cement and it is placed on top of the sheet of linoleum in the mold as shown in Figure 11. The backing member 3| is then placed on the desk top 39 and the I-beams 35 are clamped in position as shown in Figure 12. Then,

the corner pieces are swung into position as shown in Figure 13.

It will be noted thatin 'following ourprocedure outlined above, the curves at the sides and ends of the desk top "are first produced, while letting the corners of the linoleum take whatever shape is forced upon them; then by means of the corner pieces, the corners of the linoleum are compressed into position in. adhesive engagement with the corners of the desktop. in this way, an entirely smooth unwrinkled covering of a desk top is achieved without notched or cut away corners in the linoleum and without having to cover the corners with-metallic corner pieces or thelike.

To finish the appearance and protectthe linoleum around the bottom edges of the desk top, a narrow trim strip is applied, as is common practice on desk tops. The trim strip is indicated generally at 55 and is provided with an upstanding flange it having a slightly inturned edge ii. The portion 3 5 is drilled at suitable intervals as at it. We prefer to make the trim strip for the entire periphery of the desk in two pieces with joints approximately at the centers of the opposite end edges of the desk. The piece of trim strip 45 shown in Figure 16 is therefore of a length substantially equivalent to one-half the periphery of the bottom edge of the desk top. At two points as at which the corner bends are to be made, we cut away the portion 45 to permit curving of the portions of the trim strip therebeyond at right angles to the center portion as indicated by the broken lines in Figure 16.

We prepare two such pieces and secure them to the desk top by driving self-threading screws through the holes td as indicated at 5!], and the finished desk top will have the appearance from underneath shown in the Figure 17.

Referring back to Figures 6 and 9 inclusive, it will be noted that the radius of curvature in a vertical plane diagonally through the corners (Figure 9) is greater than the radius of curvature in a vertical plane normal to the side or end edges (Figure 8). We have found that by making the curvature diagonally through the corners gentler, we are able to secure not only a better appearance from the aesthetic viewpoint, but a better forming or molding of the linoleum at the corners. Thus, of course, the concavity of the corner pieces I7, and indicated at Ila, is not a spherical concavity, but the radius of curvature in the vertical planes of the edges of the corner pieces is sharper than it is in a vertical plane bisecting the vertical edge planes.

The desk top is left in the mold as shown in Figure 12 until the trim strip has been secured in position as shown in Figure 17. Once the trim strip is in position, it will hold the linoleum in place while the adhesive is setting; and we, therefore, remove the completed desk top from the mold and place it in a stack as shown in Figure 18 where the completed desk tops indicated generally at so are placed face to face and back to back on a supporting member 6i. We finish off the stack with a board 62 and place suitable weights W thereon. Such a stack of desk tops may then be left for as many hours as necessary for the particular cement which is being used to set completely.

It will be clear that numerous modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and we therefore do not intend to limit ourselves as to the structure or method steps otherwise than as set forth in the claims which follow.

Having now fully described our invention, what side and end walls and flat we claimras new anddesire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. An apparatus for thepurpose described, comprising a female mold-member having a fiat bottom merging into side andend walls by means of smooth curves, and having open corners, corner pieces for said female mold member merging side and end walls with said flat bottom in a smooth curve, said corner pieces being hingedly mounted whereby they maybe placed in operative position or dropped down out of the way, and means for locking said corner pieces in operative position.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which said hinged mounting comprises a plate hinged to said female mold member, said corner piece being adjustably mounted upon said plate whereby it may be accurately aligned with said female mold member.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, in which said hinged plate is provided with a locking member and a linkage for actuating the same, said linkage being of the dead-center type.

4. An apparatus for the purpose described, comprising a female mold member having a flat bottom merging into side and end walls by means of smooth curves and having Open corners defined by vertical planes at right angles to each other, a supporting structure for said mold member, said supporting structure having openings at the corners of said mold member, a plate hinged to said supporting structure at each corner, said plate having mounted thereon a corner piece for said mold member, said corner piece having a concave curvature merging smoothly into said bottom, and being defined by vertical planes at right angles to each other.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, in which said corner pieces are adjustable with respect to said hinged plates, whereby said corner pieces may be accurately aligned with said mold member.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5, in which said hinged plates carry locking members adapted to engage said supporting structure adjacent said corners to hold said corner pieces in position against said mold member.

'7. An apparatus according to claim 6, in which said locking members are actuated by a linkage of the dead center type for quick locking and releasing of said locking members.

8. An apparatus according to claim '7, in which the curvature of said corner pieces parallel to said vertical planes is sharper than their curvature in a plane bisecting said vertical planes.

9. An apparatus for the purpose described, comprising a support, a female mold member mounted on said support and having a flat bottom merging into side and end walls by means of smooth curves, and having open corners, corner pieces for said female mold member merging side and end walls with said flat bottom in a smooth curve, said corner pieces being hingedly mounted whereby they may be placed in operative position or dropped down out of the way, means for looking said corner pieces in operative position, a desk top to be covered constituting the male member for said mold, a backing member for said male member, and means for clamping said backing member to said support to bring said male member and female member into molding relationship.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, in which said clamping means comprises a beam member having an L-shaped link adjustably secured thereto at each end, and a locking lever pivotally secured to the transverse leg of each of said L-shaped links, said locking levers being pivoted adjacent their ends and having short angular locking legs extending beyond said pivot points, the adjustment of said L-shaped links being such that their transverse legs can extend under said support, locking being accomplished by pivoting said locking levers so that their locking legs wedge against the underside of said support.

JOHN HENRY BRINKER.

FRANK CONLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Amigo July 27, 1948 

